Category: Blog

The start of the school year, the beginning of football season and my latest project sparked me to share a story that’s 20 years in the making.

My father and I would always have lunch during summer vacations. He’d buy a variety of Armenian newspapers to read and give me loose change so I can run to a newsstand and buy a copy of the L.A. Times to have something to read too.

We wouldn’t talk much while eating; it was strictly reading — and each of us hogging for table space to comfortably spread our papers.

This is how it was as far back as fifth grade, when I’d think to myself, “One day I’ll be writing stories for the L.A. Times.”

I’d always keep the Sports section, read every word, and throw away the rest of the paper. This would continue throughout high school, where I’d hide the paper under my math book and read that instead. My friends always knew who to ask for the latest news on the Lakers and Dodgers.

I’d even save particular papers featuring “memorable moments,” a sentimental collection still tucked away in the garage today. By the end of college, my dreams didn’t seem too farfetched as the papers I continued saving started featuring my own reporting and writing.

Although I’ve been at the L.A. Times for a while now, it’s still surreal to see my name on projects.

Today felt like one of the hot summer nights of 1995.

Here’s my latest L.A. Times story featuring an interview I did with Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.

The overwhelming and unprecedented international attention, compassion and acknowledgment Armenians have received in regard to the Genocide in recent weeks is incredible.

The entire world is discussing the Genocide of over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children. As we approach the centennial commemoration – April 24, 1915 is the Red Sunday when Ottoman authorities gathered some 250 Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople to eventually murder them — a Who’s Who of modern-day, socially conscious luminaries have gone on the record and opened the discussion about one of the darkest chapters in world history.

Pope Francis commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Genocide on April 12 by labeling the massacres as the “first genocide of the 20th century” and invited the two Catholicoi at the top of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s hierarchy to frankly speak as well.

George Clooney joined the launch of The 100 Lives initiative to commemorate Genocide with Ruben Vardanian in March. Clooney’s said it’s his goal “to focus global attention on the impact of genocide as well as putting resources toward ending mass atrocities around the world.” Clooney’s wife Amal, an international human rights lawyer, spoke on behalf of Armenia at the European Court of Human Rights in regard to genocide denial in January.

In her arguments Clooney highlighted Turkey’s hypocrisy for defending the Right to Freedom of Speech in Europe, while at the same time Hrant Dink is murdered in Istanbul, and the same anti-Armenian sentiments of a 100 years ago are still alive in the country.

Clooney went on to accuse the court of being “simply wrong. It [the court] casts doubt on the reality of Genocide that Armenian people suffered a century ago.”
“Armenia must have its day in court,” she added. “The stakes could not be higher for the Armenian people.”

In her presentation, Clooney pointed out Turkey’s double standards on freedom of expression, when the country has been notorious in suppressing speech, jailing journalists and event going as far as to ban social media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter.

“Armenia is not here to argue against freedom of expression any more than Turkey is here to defend it. This court knows very well how disgraceful Turkey’s record on freedom of expression is,” she said. “You have found against the Turkish government in 224 separate cases on freedom of expression grounds.”

” … There were 2 million Armenians. Just a few short years later, there were only 400,000 left.

“The Turkish government spends millions and millions of dollars every single year using their clout to lobby against anyone in the world pushing a bill to recognize it. Apparently their clout is significant because even the United States of America hasn’t officially recognized it yet,” said political commentator Glenn Beck, who pondered “are we seeing history repeat itself?”

The message is clear in every language. Athletes David Nalbandian, Jose Meolans, Juan Carlos Olave, José Palazzo and Carlos Hairabedian call on the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide. (Video in Spanish)

The world had an unfiltered front-row seat to Kim and Khloe Kardashian (arguably the most-famous Armenians in the world) and Kanye West’s excursion to Armenia this April that was documented and dissected by every media outlet. More importantly, it brought awareness to a century-long cause and enlightened an entirely new audience to Armenia’s rich history and culture.

This immediately ranks as one of Mankind’s greatest accomplishments. Move over Moses parting the Red Sea. There’s a new miracle bestowed upon thou.

I’ve long been an activist against social media and how it represents all of the exaggerated and hollow beings in society. Some know how to do it right. Others fail miserably, and I loathe them.

But over the course of the last year, many of my family and friends have reacted as if I have Ebola once they learn I don’t have Instagram. I’ve spent countless nights shamed in dark corners knowing that I couldn’t be tagged in a picture.

Well, those days are all in the past. Hopefully Ebola will be, too. I’m relinquishing all rights to my privacy. … Welcome to the “Fabulous Life of Manouk Akopyan!”

–> My exorbitant and epic lifestyle. It’s pretty insane. I hope you can keep up. I just thank #God that I am so #blessed to enjoy every second of it. Now you will too, whether you like it or not. As a matter of fact you should like it. After all, that’s why I posted it for in the first place.

–> For all of you to finally meet my Playmate friends. Not you, dad.

–> Hashtags. Lots of them. Most of them blasphemous because being a pretentious douchebag is what I’ve always strived to be in life. #Blessed.

–> The latest happenings in my career. Name a better outlet for a writer than Instagram. I thought so. Read on.

–> My quintessential photography skills. What better way to realize that I am more talented than I actually thought so that I can launch my postcard business. #CEO #PictureSaysAThousandWords #NoFilter

–> Show off more filters than a coffee shop and offer more collages than a Picasso garage sale. #Masterpiece

–> Selfies from the gym, because is a workout really a workout if you don’t know about it? Sweat-soaked shirts available upon special request. Pouty lips optional.

–> Sporadically post pictures of breakfast, lunch, dinner, but not necessarily in that order. Nothing will get you through your day quite like seeing me power through mine with blueberry oatmeal.

–> Random things that I am doing, like driving, and all of a sudden be like “hey checkout out this amazing #sunset.”

–> Screenshots of inspirational quotes that I Googled just so I can remain relevant on your timeline. Trust me, I don’t know who Sophocles is either.

–> A repository of memes. I will be the second coming of iFunny. iPromise.

–> Subtly show off my material possessions, because I am too #humble and #blessed to do so outright.

–> Periodic postings of ATM slips because I’m about that #RichKidsofInstagram life. #BankOfAmericaAccountGotThreeFigures

–> Lots of Throwback Thursdays and Flashback Fridays because what good is my life, or yours for that matter, if we continually can’t live in the past?

–> Pictures of my nephews and nieces. Since I don’t have kids, that’s all you get – for now. Slide up in my DMs and that could change.

–> My eclectic taste for music. Think of me as your personal Shazaam. Or better yet just think of me because that’s why I posted the Pandora screenshot anyway.

Next time you want to call Michael Jordan a no-name hack, well, you can, because M.J. once played a game with a No. 12 Chicago Bulls jersey without his name on the back.

It very well could be His Airness’ most under-reported feat of all-time.

Ninety minutes before tipoff of a 1990 Valentine’s Day game against the Orlando Magic, Jordan’s uniform was stolen. As the story goes, Jordan scrambled to find a jersey, going as far as trying on one young fan’s replica. After realizing it made him look like Karl Malone in one of his smedium ensembles, he opted for the alternative: a generic jersey.

Gabriel Rosado will veer into Big Knockout Boxing when he takes on Bryan Vera on August 16 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The 28-year-old, whose last four fights have either been televised on Showtime or HBO, will headline the promotion’s main event in the 160-pound bout. (DirectTV/PPV)

Rosado said he took the fight to stay busy. The perennial Puerto Rican contender by way of North Philadelphia added that BKB provides exposure to an untapped audience and offers money that he would not have seen if the fight were to take place in the squared circle.

BKG, formerly Bare Knuckle Boxing, puts fighters in a circular pit (no ropes) for two-minute rounds. Just 17 feet across, the pit is almost half the size of a traditional boxing ring. In March, the Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned the combat sport. Rosado said they will be using 10-ounce gloves in the seven-round featured attraction.

“When I first heard about it, it kind of threw me off a bit,” Rosado said. “But when I heard it was possibly against a guy like Bryan Vera, it got my attention because he’s a name. When you put guys like me and Bryan Vera in this type of environment, in this sport, you’re going to have your critics, but at the same time, people still are going to want to see.

“I’m a fighter. It’s just another fight to me. … It’s boxing. At the end of the day, when the bell rings, you’re getting hit in the mouth.”

Rosado is looking to get back into the winning column; his previous four fights against Jermell Charlo, Peter Quillin, J’Leon Love and Gennady Golovkin have not yielded a victory.

“When you come up short, it hurts. This time around, I feel like in my career, this is my second wind. It’s important for me to come out with a victory this time,” Rosado said. “I’m going to very hungry and determined. I feel like I just have to get that monkey off my back. I just have to get it done.”

I caught up with Rosado (video interview above) and discussed a wide variety of topics, including: Gennady Golovkin’s power in their 2013 bloodbath, his choice words for Peter Quillin, why he moved to Los Angeles and the meaning behind his tattoos.